The Raeburn and Utrecht Shields

🏉 France Holds Onto the Raeburn Shield! 🇫🇷 What a game last Friday! France dug deep to see off Argentina pretty comfortably 37 -23 in a cracking match at the Stade de France. The Pumas brought the fight, but Les Bleus ultimately looked comfortable and keep the Raeburn Shield in their hands for the remainder of 2024. That’s two in a row now for the French as lineal world champs—bring on the next challenge! So, what’s the Raeburn Shield? 🛡️ It’s rugby’s lineal title—passed on when the Shield-holder gets beaten. It would have been first claimed back in 1871 during rugbys first international. It's all about history, pride, and proving it on the field. Win the game, win the Shield. Simple as that. Next Up: Six Nations 2025! 🏆 The Shield will be on the line when France kick off their Six Nations campaign against Wales. From there, it could go anywhere—imagine it bouncing through Cardiff, Dublin, or Edinburgh! Every game in the tournament could be a title match by round 3 depending on resutls, and it all starts in February. Why It’s Special 🌍 The Raeburn Shield brings a bit of extra magic to every test match. It connects today’s players and fans to the roots of the game and keeps the rugby story alive. Follow along as the Shield’s journey continues—this is what makes rugby great!

🏉 Rugby talks a lot about innovation. The show put on at Stade de France last night for the France vs. New Zealand game was incredible, and put the Tyson v. Paul farce, that every “expert” on LinkedIn wants to talk about as the “future” of broadcast bla bla bla, as a spectacle to shame. One could feel the atmosphere through the screen, the lighting, the theatre, the rendition of La Marseillaise was all time, and the spectacle on the field was as good as any rugby or sports fan could ever wish for…it was also for a relatively unknown but very real trophy🏆, the The Raeburn and Utrecht Shields. Sometimes it doesn’t need to be complicated. 🔨

🏉✨ A Historic Win for Les Bleus!🏆 France has reclaimed the Raeburn Shield, rugby’s lineal world title, with a thrilling 30-29 victory over New Zealand! 🎉 It’s their first time holding the Shield since 2009, and what a journey 2024 has been! 🔄 2024 Raeburn Shield Journey: ➡️ June: South Africa started strong, defeating Wales 🏉 (41-13) at Twickenham defending the shield they had won at the same time a the RWC last year. ➡️ July: The Springboks defended it in Pretoria 🌍 (27-20 vs. Ireland) but lost it in Durban (25-24) as Ireland claimed the Shield. ➡️ November: New Zealand stunned Ireland in Dublin 🖤 (23-13), taking the Shield to Paris, where France seized their moment 🔥 (30-29). ⏳ The Next Chapter: The final Raeburn Shield match of 2024 will be France vs. Argentina. If France wins: The Shield enters the Six Nations, sparking huge excitement in Europe! 🌍 If Argentina wins: The Shield embarks on a Southern Hemisphere journey into 2025. 🌞 The Shield’s unique journey showcases rugby’s rich history, connecting every match to a legacy that dates back to 1871. 🏆 Who will take the Raeburn Shield into 2025? Let the drama continue! 🎭 *************************** 🏉 Vive la France! 🇫🇷🏆 Quelle soirée pour le rugby ! La France a récupéré le Raeburn Shield, battant la Nouvelle-Zélande dans un match palpitant. C’est la première fois depuis 2009 que les Bleus détiennent ce titre prestigieux, après 15 ans d’attente. Pour ceux qui ne connaissent pas, le Raeburn Shield est le titre mondial linéaire du rugby. Il fonctionne comme une ceinture de boxe : il est transmis de match en match, et chaque test-match est une défense de titre. Hier soir, les Bleus ont relevé le défi avec brio ! Aux All Blacks—bravo pour une bataille exceptionnelle. C’est grâce à des matchs comme celui-ci que le Shield a tant de valeur. Alors que le Shield commence son aventure en France, nous célébrons les deux équipes et l’incroyable héritage du rugby. Les Bleus pourront-ils le défendre longtemps ? Allez les Bleus !

Can the All Blacks hold onto the Raeburn Shield? Or will France take it for the north and try to keep it for the Six Nations in 2025? The Shield’s up for grabs again, and it’s all on the line at Stade de France this week. Historically, the All Blacks have the edge in Raeburn Shield clashes against France, winning 14 of their 19 Shield encounters. Across those match-ups, New Zealand has racked up 389 points to France’s 229. But here’s the twist—France has claimed victory four times, proving they’ve got what it takes to take the Shield north. In fact, the last time France held the Raeburn Shield was back in 2009, when they stunned New Zealand in Dunedin. Now, 15 years later, they’re looking to make history again and bring the Shield back to French soil. Who’s got the edge? The All Blacks have Beauden Barrett back at 10, with Codie Taylor starting at hooker, adding depth and experience. France, however, is ready to unleash some flair, with Romain Buros making his debut at fullback. Will the All Blacks’ strong historical edge and experience see them through, or will the passionate home crowd push France to reclaim the Shield for the first time since 2009? Why does this matter? The Raeburn Shield isn’t just a trophy—it’s rugby’s lineage, passed down from game to game since 1871. There’s no ranking or committee behind it—just the result on the field. Every match is a chance to add to a tradition that stretches back over 150 years, creating another chapter in rugby’s story. So, can the All Blacks keep it in the Southern Hemisphere? Or will France reclaim the Shield, setting up a Six Nations for the ages? Either way, it’s going to be a classic. Follow the Raeburn Shield and be part of rugby history.

All Blacks Claim the Raeburn Shield – Next Up, France! After their win over Ireland, the All Blacks now hold the Raeburn Shield! Next, they’ll defend it against France in a game that carries even more weight thanks to this unique title—and it’s one that’s capturing the hearts of fans around the world. Although the Raeburn Shield isn’t an “official” trophy, it’s very real to the thousands of fans who engage with it every week. Here’s why it’s making such an impact on fans and players alike: 🔗 Lineal World Title: The Raeburn Shield passes only by defeat, which means every holder has to defend it every match—giving each game an extra edge and meaning. 📜 A Story That Spans Generations: The Shield weaves a lineal legacy through rugby, connecting each match, nation, and team that holds it. For players, defending the Shield is an honour, knowing they’re adding to a history that’s passed from game to game. 🏆 Fan-Driven Excitement: Thousands of fans have been talking, sharing, and celebrating the Shield all weekend, showing that this lineal title resonates deeply with the rugby community. Every game becomes a “must-watch,” knowing the title could move on to a new team. 🌍 A Prize for All Nations: The Raeburn Shield is open to any team who can win it, adding excitement as every nation has a chance to compete for the title. You never know when that next opportunity will come, so each match carries a “take your shot” thrill that makes the competition even more meaningful. With New Zealand as the current holders, France is their first big test. Can the All Blacks keep the Shield in New Zealand, or will it make its way to France? This journey is one to follow! #RaeburnShield #AllBlacks #FranceRugby #rugby #rugbyunion David Algie David Robertson James William de Mortimer Craig Fenton Leanne Bats ᵍᵐ Lewis Wright Nick Riggall 🏉🤖Matt Hymers RugbyDAO

🏆 Why the Raeburn and Utrecht Shields are a Must-Share Story This Week 🏆 For journalists and content creators looking for a fresh story to cover this week, let me tell you why the Raeburn Shield and Utrecht Shield are grabbing millions of views across social channels this year—and why they’re worth your attention. The Raeburn Shield, rugby’s “Lineal World Title,” isn’t just another trophy. It’s earned on the pitch, passed from one winning team to the next in a pure, winner-takes-all format. Every match it is in is meaningful, steeped in rugby’s roots with links back to the birth of the game, and fan-driven in the best way possible. It’s a legacy being crafted by today’s players but linked back to those who came before with the shields handed over whenever the holder is defeated since 1871 in the men's game. (Of course since I created it and wasn't alive then they may not have known 😉 ) Why does that matter this week? Because Irish Rugby are the current Raeburn Shield holders and their match this weekend against the All Blacks doubles as a lineal world title challenge meaning the winner takes it away with them. Ireland took the shield off South Africa in their last match and will be looking to go more than the one match but... coming off the back of a win at the home of English rugby the All Blacks will be keen to take the crown.... Meanwhile, the Utrecht Shield is making waves in the women’s game, carried by athletes like Emily Scarratt and Canada’s stars Krissy Scurfield, Sara Svoboda, and Fancy Bermudez. This shield isn’t just about tradition; it’s about bringing attention to the power and talent within women’s rugby, connecting current players with fans eager to celebrate their impact on the game. I’m the hustle behind these Shields, and if you want the inside story, I’m always up for a chat. This year alone, the Raeburn and Utrecht Shields have racked up millions of views on social media—and there’s no sign of that slowing down. These Shields have become a movement, one that connects fans directly to the players and brings a community feel back into rugby coverage. If you’re looking to tell stories that blend heritage, hustle, and the magic of the game, the Raeburn and Utrecht Shields are exactly that. DM me if you’d like to learn more about these Shields and the journey we’re on—this is a story your readers or viewers will love. #RaeburnShield #UtrechtShield #RugbyHeritage #FanDriven #rugby #rugbyunion James William de Mortimer Adam Ryan Paul Johns Simon McMaster Lewis Wright Leanne Bats ᵍᵐ

The English #RedRoses claimed the Utrecht Shield off of Canada over the weekend. Congratulations to women's rugby's new lineal world champs who will now keep the shield until defeated which based on current form might be a while! The next defence will be their first six nations match against Italy. It is also worth taking the time to celebrate Canadian women's rugby who have been immense this year and really took it to England over the weekend. They won the Utrecht Shield for the first time in their history and then managed 3 defences to get to 4 in this run 🙌

I post videos I know will lose me followers... It's a truth that the social content I create about and for women's rugby is always more likely to bring out the trolls. But I love and am supportive of the women's game so the reality is that the followers who drop from this content are not ones I want and the ones who replace them will always be better. But this one has 30, 000 views and has been picked up and stitched with many thousands of likes. It was even referenced on drive time radio in South Africa today! So while there are negatives I can also find some positives! Please excuse the use of auto captions which really bit me with my Kiwi accent in this video 🤣

Persistence is a virtue. The reality is that while the lineal titles will improve the experience of world rugby for fans and players alike someone has to really step up and introduce people to what it is all about. Turns out that is me 😊

Irish☘️ rugby have taken men's rugby's lineal world title off South Africa! Congratulations Ireland on becoming Raeburn Shield holders. Has been a really fun week on social media with over 1,000,000 👁👁views across the social platforms and plenty of fans in full voice about the Raeburn Shield. My focus is squarely on those fans and in time the players as this big old game of "winner stays on" creates this amazing travelling prize floating around the mens game (Raeburn Shield) and womens game (Utrecht Shield which is currently held by Canada). International rugby is more fun when we all compete for the same prize and we can do that all the time! Building a fan following allows this organic and fun concept the room to become something by us for us. love it 🙌 James William de Mortimer David Robertson Leanne Bats ᵍᵐ W C 👽 Nick Riggall 🏉🤖 Adam Ryan BRUCE AITCHISON Sean Phelan David Algie